Fireplace structure



Jan. 7, 1969v CQ J. KEPPELMAN 3,420,020

v FIREPLACE STRUCTURE 0 Filed Dec. 22, 1966 INVENTOR. CARLTON J. KEPPELMAN l ownsenqul ownseu ATTORNEYS United States Patent Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fireplace structure formed of a skeletal frame of vertical and horizontal members which are spaced to receive bricks and upon receipt, hold the bricks in tightly nested structural support to thereby obtain a fireplace.

This invention relates to an improved fireplace structure and a method of construction thereof. l

Such fireplaces, which are portable or are `designed for installation in existing structures, have conventionally been formed of sheet metal and are arranged to be placed at selected locations within an existing room with proper smokestack ventilation being added to project through the roof. Sheet or cast metal structures have a tendency to conduct the heat in the firebox outwardly so that the radiant heat from the box becomes somewhat of a hazard tothe-adjacent walls of the building structure. To alleviate this hazard, conventionally, asbestos or other insulating material has been employed. In some instances, prefabricated or portable fireboxes have had provision for a liner portion of bricks to be associated with the box to form some insulating functions. However, in such cases, the bricks did not contribute materially to the structural aspects of the fi-replace.

In the present invention, there is provided a metal skeletal frame which is formed in such a manner as to provide a plurality of structurally receiving nests for conventional bricks or firebricks. The bricks, therefore, in the structure of the present invention form both the side and bottom walls of the fireplace thus contributing to the heat insulative properties as well as contributing to the esthetics by providing exposed brick faces on both the interior and exterior walls of the fireplace.

A feature and advantage of this invention lies in the fact that the bricks need not be mortared or otherwise permanently adhered together due to the fact that the metal framework maintains the bricks in their tightly abutted relationship.

A further feature and advantage of this invention lies in the fact that the device is highly portable `and can be moved either short or great distances with considerable ease. Naturally, brick structures are inherently heavy and difficult to move when assembled. In the present invention, the relatively light metal framework is easily transportable and the bricks can be disassembled therefrom at will so that the heavy brick components can be transported independently with ease. It is further noted that for long distance portability only the frame needs to be transported and new bricks native to the new location can then be added to the fireplace.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the skeletal framework fireplace structure of the present invention with the bricks being partially installed and represented by broken lines; and,

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view with the bricks 3,420,020 Patented Jan. 7, 1969 ice installed being shown by solid lines and with the cover and vent pipe being installed thereto.

The fireplace of the present invention has a framework generally indicated at A formed having a horizontal base a B and three vertical sidewalls C.

Base B is formed with a frame 18 having four L-shaped angle members which form the front 19, back 20 and two sides 22 of the frame 18. T-shaped bottom stringers 24 and 25 are arranged to span between the two side members 22. The spanning members 24 and 25 are formed of T-shaped stock with the top of the T being horizontal and mounted in co-planar relation to the inside legs of the two side members 22. The side walls C are formed by upwardly extending L-members 28 which form the two forward corners of the fireplace and L-members 29 which form the two rearward corners. The corner L- members 28 and 29 are mounted with the two legs of the L being in juxtaposition to the abutting edges of the frame 18. A plurality of vertical T-shaped stud members are mounted between the respective corner members 28 and 29 and vertical side members 34 mounted between the T-members 33 and the corner member 29. The two backs of the extending T-sha-ped members are mounted between the two corner members 29 at substantially equally spaced intervals. Inner-support Ts 36 are mounted opposite Ts 35 respectively, and inner-support Ts 37 are mounted opposite Ts 33. The framework in this form is shaped and dimensioned to receive and support bricks D in a manner that will be hereinafter described.

The back vertical wall of bricks D is supported in three columnar areas formed by the two back corner members 29, the back Spanner Ts 35, the two side Spanner Ts 34 and the two inner Ts 36. The spacing members provide a nest for maintaining the three columns of bricks in captive columnar relationship. As can be seen, the bottom horizontal Spanner 35 is spaced a distance from the back frame member 20 equal to the width of a brick so that the brick lat the bottomy is supported by both the inner leg of the back of the frame and the top of the T-spanner 25. Two similar side brick supporting columns are similarly arranged formed by the front and corner member 28, the side Spanner 33 and the intermediate side spanner 34. These are similarly spaced to provide -a columnar supportas described with respect to the back members. The spanner 24 and the Spanner 2S are arranged in spaced apart distances so that the upper leg of the T is adapted to support bricks on the top thereof. Similarly, the inner ledge or leg of front frame member 19 and the upper edge of Spanner 24 is arranged to support a horizontal column of bricks D. It can thus be seen that the lskeletal structure A provides a plurality of nesting areas for bricks which securely and firmly hold the bricks in position to form the completed structure.

lf desired, a bottom plate 45 can be mounted underneath the bricks to prevent small particles such as ashes and the like from dropping through the structure.

A cover 48 is arranged to fit over the entire structure which conventionally can be formed in a rectangular truncated configuration with a venting chimney 49 being mounted on the top thereof. The completed structure thus provides a firebox 50 having its front and open end and having the bottom sides and back being formed of bricks which are securely held in place by the skeletal frame A.

ln assembling the device, frame A is mounted in position as described and the respective bricks D are mounted within the various columnar and bottom placements as previously described. It is unnecessary to provide any mortar or other -afiixing binder between the bricks due to the fact that the structure is self-supporting by virtue of frame A. In this position, the hood 48 is installed and exhaust chimney 49 is connected as is conventional.

The unit may, of course, be mounted above the oor surface by providing legs 52 which may be formed of bricks also.

A typical fireplace screen 55 can be mounted on the front edge 56 of the cover or hood 48 so as to cover the opening to the firebox.

It can be seen that should it be desired to move the fireplace that a reverse disassembly procedure can be accomplished. The bricks can be independently removed easily because there is only a mechanical interlock maintaining them in place. After removal of the bricks, the frame can be installed in a new location and either the old or new bricks installed.

Frame A can be formed of suitable metals or other materials that will withstand temperatures normally associated with fireplaces and the bricks preferably should be formed of conventional firebricks which are adapted to maintain replace temperatures satisfactorily.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed:

1. A fireplace comprising: a rectangular base formed of a peripheral L-shaped channel having an inwardly directed horizontal ange and an outer vertical lip, an L-shaped corner channel mounted vertically on each corner of said base, a plurality lof bricks vertically stacked on `said flange abutting said lip on three sides of said base to form a back and two side Walls of said fireplace, a plurality of horizontally spaced columnar member means extending upwardly from said base intermediate said corner channels land spaced a distance equal to one brick length from each other and said corner channels, said columnar member means having a first surface engaging the end of the brick and a second surface engaging the side wall of a brick to maintain the stacked bricks in vertical supported alignment, horizontal support members extending transversely across said base and a plurality of horizontally mounted bricks mounted on said flange and said horizontal support to form the -oor of said fireplace, said horizontal members being spaced to engage the end portions only of said bricks, a second group of columnar member means extended upwardly from said horizontal support members and spaced from said respective first named columnar member means by the width of a brick.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,435,172 1/1948 Young 52-218 3,292,325 12/1966 Nicolini 52-282 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

S. D. BURKE, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

